MEDIA ALERT

What: Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center students will be tasked with catalyzing social change at the design college’s unprecedented 24-hour Ide-A-Thon beginning Thursday, July 14. The Idea-A-Thon will give students of Miami Ad School’s Atlanta campus the opportunity to develop strategic, innovative and actionable plans that combat police brutality and vigilantism. Students in New York, Miami and San Francisco will join these efforts at their respective campuses, resulting in over 8,000 hours of brain power dedicated to reconciling a divided nation.

Former White House creative director and digital strategist Ashleigh Axios will join students on Friday, July 15, to help mold initial concepts into real-world plans. During the following week, students will use feedback gained during Friday’s panel presentations to finalize their ideas. The school’s influential board of directors will select the strongest ideas to circulate within their broad-reaching circles, feature in social media and upload to fundraising site CrowdRise.

Why: Last week’s shootings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and five police officers left the U.S. in a state of shock, mourning and concern. Extremists on both sides have changed the conflict to fit their radical views, leaving an already divided country further at odds. Educational institutions must empower students to spearhead social change. Miami Ad School believes that, through collective creativity, its students can be part of a long-term solution that will heal and unite a hurt nation.

When: Friday, July 159-10:30 a.m. Student brainstorm with Ashleigh Axios2-4 p.m. Students present their final projects to an expert panelCall Noelle Jackson (404-938-8377) to set up live shots and interviews during these times.

Interviews: Ashleigh Axios, former creative director and digital strategist, White House Pippa Seichrist, co-founder and head of innovation, Miami Ad School

Contact: Noelle Jackson ∣ 404-938-8377 ∣ noelle@ellepr.com

About Miami Ad SchoolFounded in Miami, Florida, in 1993 by Ron and Pippa Seichrist, Miami Ad School encompasses a network of 15 schools throughout the world that offer degrees and curriculum tailored to meet the needs of the world’s preeminent creative agencies and brands. In addition to cutting-edge degree programs, Miami Ad School empowers and equips its students with the resources to develop socially charged creative campaigns like The Trevor Project and Underground Stations. U.S. locations include Miami, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco; International locations include Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hamburg, Lima, Madrid, Mexico City, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Sydney, Toronto. Follow Miami Ad School on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.